Longmont, CO Real Estate

Longmont is a perfect combination of small town charm and suburban convenience located less than 15 miles from Boulder and 40 miles from Denver International Airport. Located in the St. Vrain Valley, Longmont has evolved from an agricultural center to a high-tech manufacturer’s dream. Being one of the first “gigabit cities” in the country, the city of Longmont now runs one of the fastest internet connections possible for residential and business sectors.

It is the second largest city in Boulder County and provides its residents with incredible mountain views, easy access to local attractions, and cultural enrichment through local arts and entertainment. Longmont has consistently been voted one of the best places to live in publications such as Money Magazine and National Civic League.

Considered one of the best educational areas near Denver, the student body consistently exceeds the national averages in both the ACT and SAT exams. By opening Colorado’s first Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program in 2016 and the Innovation Center in 2018, Longmont once again proves its ability to stay on the cutting edge of educational standards and technology. Nearby universities such as the University of Colorado and Colorado State University provide higher learning to Longmont’s collegiate population.

As a quiet residential community, Longmont has limitless potential. If you are looking for a safe and friendly neighborhood, Longmont is an ideal location. With a population of over 92,000 and climbing, new possibilities lie around every corner. Longmont is a great home for everyone, from outdoor enthusiasts, to families seeking safe and quiet neighborhoods. View all the enticing homes for sale and learn more about the Longmont Real Estate market.

History

Longmont is named for the Explorer who first visited the area, Stephen H. Long, and the French word for mountain “Mont.” Founded in 1871 by a group of Chicagoans, the Chicago-Colorado Colony was a town built on 60,000 acres purchased entirely by membership donations. It is the first planned community in Boulder County and was considered an agricultural center as the Colorado Railroad built lines into the town in 1877.

In this dry and fertile environment, the original settlers built large river-fed irrigation ditches to bring water to Longmont’s growing agricultural community. The town, designed by the colony planners to look like most American small towns, was set in a one square mile grid, with a new industrial complex lining the railroad and the St. Vrain River. Within the first years of the town’s growth, a beet sugar factory, a flour mill, and a number of immigrants from European countries helped to solidify the roots of this already growing agricultural center.

By the 1950’s the agricultural economy of this growing town began to decline, and a new technology-based economy was growing all along the Rocky Mountain Front Range. In 1962, the U.S. Government installed an air traffic control center in Longmont, and was quickly followed by an IBM manufacturing Facility. At this time the city’s boundaries doubled twice – once between 1960 and 1970, and again between 1970 to 1980 – bringing a huge boon to the population by the early 1990’s.